Train to Be a Pharmacist Tech

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How to Select a Pharmacist Technician School near Duncan 85534

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Duncan AZ, you might be pondering how to select the best school to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. A number of potential students start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be evaluated also. And if you prefer studying at home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let’s discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

The Role of a Pharmacy Tech

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Duncan AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist’s directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician might perform are:

Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions

Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction

Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system

Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up

Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms

Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two alternatives to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at {an approved|an accepted Duncan AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacist Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Duncan AZ employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacist Tech Online Schools

Before choosing a pharmacist tech online program, it’s necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in an area Duncan pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Duncan AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Duncan AZ area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Duncan residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you must consider so that you may adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacist Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Duncan AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Duncan AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Duncan AZ after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Duncan AZ residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Duncan AZ area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Enrolling in a Duncan AZ Pharmacy Tech School?

If you are planning to attend a Pharmacy Technician Certificate or Degree Program in the Duncan Arizona area, you may find the following background information about the location of your school campus interesting and informative.

Duncan, Arizona

Duncan is in the Gila River valley, 4 miles (6 km) west of the Arizona-New Mexico border. The town limits are on both sides of the Gila, but the primary portion of the town and the entire downtown area lie on the south side of the river. Duncan was founded in the mid 19th century, and the land was added to the United States as a part of the Mexican Cession. The town of Duncan has been destroyed twice by flood and once by fire.

The town and area are primarily populated by ranchers and miners (especially from the Freeport-McMoran copper mines in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico). Surrounding smaller towns such as Franklin and York in Arizona and Virden, New Mexico, use Duncan public works and public schools. The Duncan area along the Gila River is renowned for Native American artifacts such as arrow heads, pottery, burial sites, cave paintings and other remnants of the Anasazi and other pre-historic cultures, as well as artifacts from garrison camps of the expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, but grew up near Duncan on the Lazy B ranch, which straddles the border between Arizona and New Mexico. The Day family ran the ranch for many years until selling it; it continues to be run as a ranch. O'Connor later wrote a book titled Lazy B: Growing up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest about her childhood experiences on the ranch with her brother H. Alan Day.

Enroll in the Right Pharmacy Technician Training Program Duncan AZ

Finding the right pharmacist technician training is a critical first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained “on the job”. Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician programs incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it’s essential to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. And if you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the proper training and determination you can accomplish your goal of becominga pharmacy technician in Duncan AZ.